PRESERVE OUR SOVEREIGNTY AND PROTECT OUR INDEPENDENCE!

SALAM MERDEKA!

Our forefathers slogged to win us independence allowing us all to be free from the shackles of the British Empire which had ill will towards the native Malays. It was difficult, but they did it without shedding a drop of blood and achieved it within 10 years from its first cry in the depths of rural Malaya.

It is incumbent upon us, the succeeding generation to preserve and protect our Independence whatever the cost and realize that maintaining independence is far more difficult than achieving it. Never take our Independence for granted. Once lost, it will take 7 generations or more to recover. Appreciate our Freedom!

Happy Independence Day to all Malaysian citizens!

KARTIKA: THE PM NEEDN’T DRAG HIMSELF INTO THIS

The Muslim woman consumed alcohol in public. There is a provision in the Sharia Law to punish her. The public complains about social problems within the Muslim Youths everyday. UMNO in their Annual General Assembly, debates over it viciously as though they are sincerely concerned about the decadence in our society. Today, I read the Prime Minister is using his influence to change the mind of the woman, and decision by the Sharia to repair the moral deterioration within the Malays which UMNO only talks about but never acts upon. As an UMNO man myself who attends every minute of the debates in the Annual General Assembly and have to listen to spirited speeches about our concern with the social problems of the Malays, I urge the good Prime Minister, the UMNO President, to either let the punishment be meted out without any interference, or issue a decree to all UMNO speakers to refrain from debating on moral issues as though we care two hoots about it.

If we apply the rotan on all publicly mischievous Muslims allowable within the Sharia Law, no matter what gender or race, we will see a marked reduction in the social problems that we face today. Why do we turn a blind eye on the activities of the thousands of Muslim/ Malay GROs out there? What about the Muslim men who encourage and use their “services”? Do we even care what goes on in the Kareoke rooms among the Muslims? What about the Mat Rempits? If we enact a law that allows the rotan punishment to be meted out against them, we will see our roads free from this social rubbish. Snatch thefts too will be reduced to almost a single digit.

If we ask ourselves why Singapore doesn’t face these problems, it is because they whack these decadents into obedience, and if that is what it takes to clean our act together, then why not do it! Clearly coaxing, advising and even counseling have not worked in the last ten years. Let’s wipe out the hypocrisy during our Annual General Assemblies and start acting like we do give a damn. Moral and social decadence will not disappear with the wave of the magic wand, but I can guarantee you it WILL with the swing of the ROTAN.

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Selamat Menyambut Ramadhan Al Mubaraq!

The Patriot would like to wish all readers, relatives and friends Selamat Menyambut Bulan Ramadhan. May the Lailatul Qadr visit your homes during your worship in the middle of the night and bring your good wishes and prayers through the seven layers of space into the hands of Allah for his execution.

Peace Be With Your Family and May Allah Bless Our Country.

Wasallam.

I REMEMBER WHEN....

The Uncut Version

He doesn’t know much about his father as a politician but what little he does were through his father’s correspondence with the country’s leaders back in the 1950s. Tengku Putra Haron Aminurrashid Jumat found out that his late father, Tengku Abdul Hamid Jumat, was an important man in his days - New Sunday Times, August 16 2009.

Tan Sri Tengku Abdul Hamid Jumat P.M.N. preparing to present his credentials to the German Head of State

In my family, the title Tengku was to be used only three times in our entire lives; in birth, wedding and death. This was a directive from my late grandfather, whom I was named after.
That would explain why my late father was only known as Inche Abdul Hamid Jumat (Datuk in 1958 and later Tan Sri when it was changed bearing the same Order of Panglima Mangku Negara) although it was Tengku Abdul Hamid Jumat in his official documents.

It was monotonous having to explain that fact over and over again to people who didn’t know, especially after his death.

When he was alive, I remembered him showing me a file next to the Merdeka albums that I’ve seen before. He said that I was to keep it safely in my custody as it contained important correspondences between him and the Prime Minister during the Independence.

I failed to realise then why I was given the task of keeping it safe while the rest of the documents were given to my siblings to administer. Being the only politician in the family today, I now understand his reasoning and can appreciate his foresight.

I never knew my father as a politician. When I was born, he was already a diplomat for the Malaysian government. Whatever I know of him before 1963 were from the said letters to and from the then Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman and his successor Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, both of whom he served with much pride.

After coming to terms with his sudden demise due to cardiac arrest in 1978, I looked into the file and saw letters that are now more than 50 years old. Though I’ve seen the Merdeka photos before, it didn’t make much sense until I coupled them with the letters from the Tunku, some directly relating to the events like the Baling Talks with Chin Peng, and matters relating to Singapore and its imminent leader Lee Kuan Yew.

It was then that I discovered his active involvement in the history of this nation. He was on the steps of the Istana Besar in Johor Baru as head and representing Singapore when UMNO was formed in 1946. He was vice head of UMNO Malaya (vice president in today’s term, when it was the first time they elected three “Naib yang DiPertua” of UMNO after maintaining only one the previous years) at the age of 38 in the 1950s. It was a post he held for two terms.He was also the first Malay minister, deputy chief minister and at one time acting chief minister of Singapore between 1955-59.

Front row L-R, Abdul Hamid Jumat, Tunku Abdul Rahman, David Marshall, Tun Abdul Razak, Tun Dr Ismail.

Following that, he was appointed Malaysian ambassador to Germany 1963; The Philippines 1965; Egypt, Lebanon and Morocco in 1968; and Holland, Belgium, Denmark and Luxembourg until 1973.

He was offered London as his last posting but respectfully asked Razak’s permission to return to Malaysia to enter the business fraternity.

Tan Sri Tengku Abdul Hamid Jumat and a German official after presenting his credentials to the then West German Head of State.

I found one letter dated November 9 1957 from the Tunku about the impending meeting with Chin Peng then. In the letter, he thanked my late father for supporting his action to meet with Chin Peng after reading from a report in the newspapers on the same day.

He said the others in the Federation were not keen on the meeting, adding that this may be the reason why Chin Peng’s letter to him took a while to finally reach his hands.

Baling Talks.

He asked that my father appreciate the sensitivity of the situation and understand if he nor Lim Yew Hock (Singapore second chief minister from 1956 to 1959) were invited to join in the Baling Talks with Chin Peng. The Tunku eventually did invite him along with Mr David Marshall from Singapore.

It was while serving as a Malaysian diplomat in Germany that Tunku Abdul Rahman wrote a letter dated September 3 1965, offering my father citizenship and to continue in the service of the government.

It also had some of the Tunku’s very private thoughts on Lee Kuan Yew at the time, some of which many would agree with today.

I was alerted by a friend whom I admire very much that the matter of my father’s ambassadorship and Lim as high commissioner was raised extensively in Parliament back then.
Members, had during the November 10 1965 sitting, questioned the Prime Minister on the rationale of having foreigners serving as diplomats for Malaysia. They had failed to realise then that when the two men were appointed to head the respective missions abroad, they were both Malaysian citizens.

When the abrupt decision was made to eject Singapore from Malaysia, the rightful thing to do was to ask them to make the choice of applying to become citizens of Malaysia and continue to be in the service of the Government or remain as Singaporeans.

They also didn’t know that while they were bringing the matter up in Parliament, my father under instructions from Kuala Lumpur, had successfully negotiated a DM15 million loan from the German government to be used for our country’s infrastructure. He was a loyal servant to the Malaysian government.

The decision to expel Singapore from Malaysia, according to one letter from the Tunku, remained only among four crucial members of the Cabinet until it was announced. Such was the way it was then in contrast with today when matters of national importance tend to be leaked from high offices initiating irresponsible coverage and speculation in the media and blogosphere.

My late father was totally loyal and very much indebted to the late Tunku and Razak. The latter died two years before my father and the Tunku passed on much later after that.

I remember when Tun was gravely ill in London, my sister Hasnah, who was studying there, was ordered by my father to station herself at the hospital to relay the developments via telephone reverse charged.

One evening we received a telephone call at an unusual hour for our family. My father rushed to the phone when I announced that the operator was on the line asking if we would accept the call charges from London.

Tun Abdul Razak's remains arrive from London on MAS.

It was indeed my sister bearing unpleasant news. Razak had passed away. My father slumped on the steps of the staircase next to the telephone table and that was the first and only time I ever saw him cry, sobbing like a child.

I was told by my mother later that he didn’t even cry at his father’s funeral yet did so for the man who had helped our family much and more importantly, done so for his people in the very little time that he had as Prime Minister of a young nation. Indeed, all the Malay leaders then started very young but matured rather rapidly.

The Singapore television aired the sad news not long after we received the call but it was only officially announced by the then deputy Prime Minister Datuk Hussein Onn hours after that through RTM.

Earlier in my life, I had despised my late father for taking me out of a private school abroad and putting me into a local government school with 55 students in one class, humid weather with only one fan in the middle of the ceiling furnished with wooden tables that had holes in them with a “ bulls-eye “ drawn in the centre by mischevious students playing darts with the Maths instrument called the compass.

Back then, teachers screamed at the students, with eyes staring hard and wide while holding a short stick. It was a culture shock of the highest magnitude for me.

My father and I on the grounds of the Malaysian Residence in Manila.

My father also made me bring home a different friend each weekend for lunch who came from a poor family background. I am now grateful for it as it has taught me how to eat, live and breathe with my own people enabling me to understand their troubles and serve them naturally without having to fake it like some children of renowned former politicians following in their father and grandfather’s footsteps today.

It is a proud thing for me to think that the blood of an UMNO warrior flows through my veins, but truth be told, I learnt about UMNO politics and the mechanics of the elections from the branch and village leaders in Pulai Johor Baru, whom I’ve since considered as my family.

The writer, a party loyalist and a servant of the people of Pulai, Johor Bahru.

I made my way up in the division the hard way without the blessings of my division leader then, but made peace with him after I won against all odds, in the name of party unity. I also constantly beg forgiveness from my mother’s soul for going against her wish for her children to avoid politics.

It was evident from her reaction then, that UMNO politics at that point in time was not much different than it is today, contrary to the general consensus. If indeed this is my calling, then by God, let me remain here in politics, where I am most comfortable.

NB: Click on the title to get the published version in the New Sunday Times.

SACK THE HEALTH MINISTER!

GIVE HIM THE PINK SLIP MR PRIME MINISTER!

The Health Minister should be sacked! He keeps on telling people to be calm and not panic when most of the hospitals are packed with patients having the flu symptoms. My son was diagnosed after a blood test with Influenza A last Thursday after waiting for 3 and half hours at Damansara Specialist and was referred to the Sg Buloh hospital mixing with other walkins. At Sungai Buloh, they didn’t even bother to segregate those who came from other hospitals and clinics who tested positive for Influenza A like my son from the others exposing everyone else to the risk of catching it for sure.

The doctor at Damansara failed to tell me that Influenza A is the normal flu that we get with a fever and running nose. From the blood test that she took and we had to pay for exhorbitantly, she could have said that my son didn’t have the Swine Flu because of the level of white blood cells that remained at level 6. She could have explained like the good doctor in Sungai Buloh that if the level went down to 2 it would confirm the Swine flu in him. That could have saved us the panick and the trip not to mention the 3 hour wait at the Sungai Buloh hospital exposed to the risk while standing with hundreds of other patients with high tempratures and some even fainting.

There should be a standard procedure after a blood test to determine whether there is an H1N1 infection at all clinics before they are sent to the Sungai Buloh Hospital. Apperently we can tell from the White Blood Cell Count from the report. I repeat, according to the doctor at Sungai Buloh Hospital, if the count states that it is around 2 or below, that means the patient has Swine Flu. My son’s white blood cell count was 6.3. The doctor at Sungai Buloh explained to us referring to the report from the blood test in Damansara Specialist that my son was only suffering from a normal flu with some fever. We waited for 3 hours exposed to the virus by hundreds of other patients only to be told that we could have been saved the trip had the doctor at Damansara explained to us reading then and there from the report of blood tests done at Damansara Specialist Hospital.

I respectfully suggested to the Prime Minister yesterday through his 1Malaysia Website to make a spot check at the Sungai Buloh emergency area where they have designated an area for H1N1 suspects as one of his walkabouts. He should see first hand how it’s done. Patients with high fever have to stand and queue to register. Even if their parents are there to do it for them, they still have to stand in line because there are no seats for the patients. Imagine one with very high fever and a heavy head that throbs having to stand up in line in humid weather exposing one’s germs to others vice versa? After the registration, they are shown to another area where they have to queue with some sitting while the majority stands. There, they mix the ones who’ve been tested positive for Influenza A with those who are not and they all wait for another hour and a half for their turn to see a doctor. No personnel told them to pay attention to the number on the cards while their names are being called. One good samaritan whose child was ill showed the patients after registration where to submit their cards before waiting further (because there was no hospital assistant to do it) got his registration mixed up by the authorities.

They lost it and people who came after him were given treatment ahead of his child. Can you imagine that? For a minute at Sungai Buloh Hospital, I thought I was in a thrid world African country. I had connections at the Health Ministry and could’ve easily been attended to much quicker but I wanted to experience what the Rakyat had to endure, even if it meant risking my son’s condition, because only then can I empathize with the people and know what they were feeling deep inside.

Ironically, 90% of the patients I observed at the Damansara Specialist (3 ½ hours) and Sg Buloh hospital, (3 hours), were those non Swine eating Malays and Indians. I’m wondering, is there a secret institute somewhere for the swine eating patients to go to for their check ups or are they immune from it? Surely they can’t be taking that perfect a precautionary measure that only 1 out of 20 patients come from their community? Could the reason be because most of the pig farms are located in Malay and poor settlements and not where there is a swine eating majority? Or could the reason be that this bug is airborne and festers in warm and non air-conditioned spaces where the Malays and Indians are usually living? A research should be made on how it attacks. It may not recognize race, religion or one’s eating habits but something has to be done to find out how and why a certain part of the community is the main target. This is not political. I met and spoke to many of them at the Sungai Buloh Hospital interviewing the public like the wakil rakyat for Sungai Buloh. I felt their pain, frustration and fear because they, like the rest of the Rakyat were not given proper information by the ministry, and had to be exposed to the virus while mixing in the same waiting area with those who were tested positive.

All the Health Minister is doing now is soaking in the television and print media publicity on a daily basis. He is reporting on deaths like the county coroner from a small town in Nantucket, while officiating small-time clinics here and there giving press conferences.

This is what he should do:

1. Station himself at the designated hospitals, checking out the mechanics and
format of dealing with patients, segregating the ones tested positive and
documented by other hospitals from the ones that aren’t.

2. Provide enough seats for patients while their loved ones register at the counter
so that they are comfortable and won’t turn into a statistic in the evening news
while waiting to be signed in.

3. Commission all clinics and private hospitals to check suspects using swabs and
blood tests sending them home with proper medication if the report states
that it’s just a normal flu and not the H1N1 instead of sending them to pack
the Sungai Buloh Hospital like a rock concert and be exposed. Again, I’m told
it can be detected through the blood test by checking on the White Blood Cell
Count.



When all the clinics and hospitals including the private ones share the burden of receiving and sieving through the patients, then and only then will we be able to contain the virus from turning into an epidemic. Otherwise, instead of 3 hours for the initial checkup, each patient along with the concerned relatives will be exposed to it for 7 hours in two hospitals in the same day altogether. The clinics and private hospitals must be allowed to charge the patients to ascertain whether they are infected. That, I’m sure will be the least of the problem for those concerned.

4. Find out why there are more of the poor section of the Rakyat, namely the
Malays and Indians who are infected and lost their lives. Could it be geographic
or the surrounding climate. Does it spread better in humid weather and less in
cool tempratures?

Heck! Make an effort to do some research instead of just letting it flow like it’s the plan to genocide the poor and certain segments of the community. Appearing on television looking smart and healthy, telling people not to panick isn’t going to cut it any longer. People want to know what the hell is being done about it!

Where is Koh Tsu Koon in all of this? He should be at the hospitals to see how it is working to gauge Liow’s performance as Health Minister. Is he evaluating ministers’ performances from the comfort of his leather chair and cool office in Putrajaya? Is he judging their KPI by reading cooked up reports by the respective ministers themselves?

As I have informed the good Prime Minister through his 1 Malaysia website/blog, the Rakyat won't be expecting a favourable KPI for the Health Minister and if it shockingly shows that it is favourable, then something is definitely wrong with Tsu Koon's grading system.

Liow should rope in the former Health Ministers for consultation and huddle up to find the best solution to arrest this crisis. Better yet, replace him with someone who is more hands on and committed to the task that is clearly threatening to reach epidemic status.

At the rate things are going, this time next week, we’ll hit 50 casualties and it will increase exponentially if this Minister remains in office doing the same thing he did when the first case was reported. We had more than two months notice to take pre-emptive and precautionary measures. I’m appalled that after that much time given in advance, we are still fumbling over each other with the system at the hospitals, unable to minimize its spread in the best possible manner.

H.E.' S THE MAN!

H.E. Dato’ Sri Dr Jamaluddin Jarjis
His Majesty’s Malaysian Ambassador to the
United States of America

It is confirmed! Dr Jamaluddin Jarjis will be taking pole position in the Malaysian Embassy in Washington D.C. after receiving his credentials from His Majesty the Yang DiPertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin at a special ceremony held at the Istana Negara yesterday.

While he is undoubtedly the best candidate to fill in the post that was vacant for more than a year, there are some quarters in the blogosphere trying to wash it down dwelling on baseless accusations on alleged cases against him that didn’t see the light of day. Yes he is flamboyant, cavalier, and a cigar smoker but his sharp mind and “in the face” diplomacy will work very well for Malaysia and the Barisan Nasional Government in Washington where it holds currency. The U.S. State Department took only two weeks to vet and clear him as opposed to months for the others before him.

As far as the pinching of the butt report goes, it just went and was withdrawn. He was reportedly at the Le Meridien with a relative of the former Prime Minister and there was some harmless banter by others in his party which may have upset the lady’s boyfriend more than her. There were unconfirmed reports that the Ambassador-designate had a loud verbal transaction with the former Prime Minister’s very close and important confidante at the Corcosa Seri Negara before that. I wouldn’t be surprised if a third party was involved to induce the boyfriend to pressure the lady initially to smear him justifying his exclusion from the cabinet on the pretext of the short-lived former Prime Minister’s policy of a clean Government. That would explain why Bernama, TV3 and the NST, at that time allegedly linked to the fourth floor boys went to town with the so called “induced” police report while the opposition sympathized media in the likes of Harakah and Malaysiakini were uncharacteristically sympathetic to him. I guess not being able to live with a guilty conscience, the good lady then decided to own up withdrawing her report. With no clear evidence from all of the CCTV tapes viewed of the evening by the police to the effect of the initial report, the attorney general decided that there was no case to be brought to the court.

In Malaysia, people especially the media don’t have the decency to clear one’s name with the same publicity with which it was besmirched. I was told once that when people see others fall, it releases a chemical in the brain that causes them to feel pleasure. I was a bit skeptical to digest that fact without clinical proof but I am beginning to feel that in this country at least, there is a scintilla of evidence of it in the way Malaysians behave. I witnessed it in March of 2008 even among our own supporters when Barisan Nasional lost the five States, and I am seeing some of it now against Ambassador-designate Jarjis.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE PROPOSED UMNO CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AND WHO WILL THEY BENEFIT?

KUALA LUMPUR, July 17 (Bernama) -- The Umno divisional meetings which will be held over one month will discuss the proposed amendments to the party constitution, including changing the election process.Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor hopes that the divisional meetings would proceed smoothly and become a platform linking branches to the party's higher level.

"With the amendments, the mandate to elect central leaders will be given to more Umno members at the grassroots," he was quoted as saying on the party's official website umno-online.com.

1. WHAT IS THE REASON FOR THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS, PRIMARILY THE ONE
PERTAINING TO THE GRASROOTS VOTING THE TOP BRASS?

COULD THE MAIN REASON BE TO CURB POLITICAL CORRUPTION?

Common sense will dictate that the hand that corrupts or gives is less in number than the hand that receives in any UMNO election. That being said, why then are the delegates being humiliated and insulted to the maximum by having to change the constitution implying that they are the main culprits when the authorities in UMNO should find it easier to punish the lesser number who are the corrupters themselves trying to buy their seats into the Supreme Council?

We should never think for an instance without proper analysis that widening and lengthening the field in the process of the UMNO elections will eradicate corruption in the party. It may be a little more difficult but if it at all exists, it will only spread wider the “wealth” to the mass indirectly introducing political corruption albeit in a smaller scale in value per head straight to the grassroots. Crooked minds will find many ways to skin the political cat. If indeed this system of election is to be adopted, one most obvious way to skin it is by introducing the pyramid system like in the direct selling business to UMNO politics. The local leaders will be their distributors while the 74,000 odd voting members will be the “down-line”. Naturally, the candidates will be the products they’re trying to push, and like all pyramid schemes, the system will collapse at the end bringing the whole UMNO party down with it when corruption seeps through the very foundation of the establishment, the grassroots.

We have witnessed the beginning stages of this method in last year’s divisional meetings where agents were sent through the length and width of the Peninsula and Sabah to get delegates representing their branch to nominate their respective benefactors. Never in the history of my involvement in the party have I witnessed so many people in my Annual Divisional Meeting racing up to the microphone one after the other to nominate as many as 7 out of 9 candidates for Vice President and scores for Supreme Council positions. I was told that there were meetings held between these agents and branch leaders and actually witnessed several of these cluster meetings at a favourite food outlet in my area prior to our delegates meeting.

2. WOULDN’T THIS SYSTEM OF VOTING ALTHOUGH WIDELY SEEN AS THE MOST DEMOCRATIC WAY OF SELECTION, ONLY FAVOUR THE CABINET MEMBERS AND INCUMBENTS? IS IT SERVING THE MASS OR THE BRASS?

YES! Without a doubt! Ministers and Deputy Ministers who are vying for Supreme Council positions will exploit their ministries and their allocations to the maximum by organizing programs in the various states and making headlines in the news and print media. Naturally, having much publicity, the majority of the voting members will eventually choose them over more hardworking regional leaders who have sacrificed their own finances to build programs who want to contest at the federal level but fail to get much media coverage. Instead of being a political election, it will turn out to be a popularity contest.

If this system prevails, then most often than not Government officials will have the edge in the election because it is a fact that grassroots members look at them in awe as opposed to the normal 2600 odd delegates who know the leaders and their eccentricities like the back of their hands and can make a more qualified decision in the election process.

In conclusion, the Disciplinary Committee should be strengthened and remain without prejudice or bias. If someone is found guilty of political corruption, then the person should be SACKED from his position in the Government and EXPELLED without appeal from the party. Trust me if this is upheld, then no one would dare flash their money around buying delegates in fear of being handcuffed in public and being incarcerated.

A fickle decision like finding two guilty candidates for corruption but allowing only one to contest while not the other shows the weakness of the board and creates a valid suspicion amongst the members in general towards the judgment.

Going back to basics, we would find that it is easier to curb corruption by punishing heavily the corrupters who are fewer in number then the potentially corrupted (receivers). If not even one political candidate pays for his/ her seat in the Supreme Council, the delegates would still have to vote and in the absence of money, only the true and loyal workers will get elected.

We shouldn’t call the delegates a corrupted bunch when the culprit corrupters are the leaders vying for positions in the party themselves.

Letting 74,000 odd people vote will only potentially corrupt 71,400 more odd people than usual in the UMNO election process. The means may be different but the end remains the same.
There is also the proposal that nomination and voting dates be required different than the dates of the divisional election meetings causing the cost of logistics to balloon, and more people with busy lives will eventually decide to refrain from participating. They’ll be tired of the party because of the tedious process requiring them to lose their quality time with loved ones too often for one objective, politics.

The message and solution to this is plain and simple;

AMPUTATE THE HAND THAT CORRUPTS AND THERE WILL BE NO MORE CORRUPTION IN UMNO. THE SPOTLIGHT AND FOCUS SHOULD BE ON THE CONTESTING LEADERS, NOT THE DELEGATES!

APAKAH SEBAB PERLEMBAGAAN UMNO HENDAK DI PINDA DAN SIAPAKAH YANG SEBENARNYA MENDAPAT KEUNTUNGAN DARINYA?

"Dengan cadangan pindaan yang dilakukan secara musyawarah, bermakna mandat untuk memilih pemimpin pusat akan diserahkan ke tangan lebih ramai ahli Umno sehingga di peringkat akar umbi, sepertimana cadangan sebelum ini.” Inilah yang dikatakan oleh Setiausaha Agong UMNO Malaysia sebagaimana dilaporkan di Bernama kelmarin.

1. APAKAH SEBAB UTAMA PERLEMBAGAAN INI HARUS BERTUKAR MEMBOLEHKAN LEBIH RAMAI AHLI UMNO MEMILIH PEMIMPIN PUSAT? ADAKAH IANYA DENGAN HARAPAN UNTUK MEMBENTERAS RASUAH POLITIK?

Manakah yang lebih ramai? Jumlah tangan yang memberi rasuah untuk mendapatkan tempat di Majlis Kerja Tertinggi UMNO atau tangan yang menerima di kalangan perwakilan yang telah teruk di hina dan dicaci oleh perasuah-perasuah ini di dalam media? Sudah tentu tangan yang menghulur rasuah lebih sedikit jumlahnya dan jika mereka ini di ambil tindakan dengan tegas dan secara telus tanpa memilih kasih, sudah tentu rasuah boleh dihapuskan kerana jika tiada langsung orang yang memberi rasuah, maka tiadalah yang menerimanya menyebabkan para perwakilan terpaksa mengundi juga nama-nama yang mereka fikir benar-benar boleh berkhidmat sebagai Ahli Majlis Kerja Tertinggi.

Jangan kita fikir sesekali bahawa rasuah politik boleh dibenteras dengan cara meramaikan ahli2 yang mengundi. Penjenayah politik ini, ideanya sememangnya hebat dan cerdik, mereka akan sentiasa mencari kaedah bagaimana hendak mencapai matlamatnya dan jika ramai ahli yang terbabit dalam pengundian, mereka akan menggunakan system piramid semacam “direct selling” untuk mencapai matlamat mereka itu. Kita sudah melihat bagaimana nama-nama orang-orang yang tidak pernah disebut-sebut di dalam bahagian UMNO kita berkumandang apabila lepas satu, satu perwakilan cawangan merampas microfon untuk mencadangkan nama-nama mereka di mesyuarat Agong UMNO Bahagian yang lepas.

Ini bukan cara untuk membenteras rasuah politik, ini adalah cara untuk MENGFARA’IDKAN dengan lebih luas lagi rasuah politik dan memperkenalkannya pula di kalangan akar umbi. Jika benar usaha itu ikhlas untuk membenteras rasuah politik, maka tindakan tegas seperti perlucutan keahlian tanpa rayuan dan kelucutan kedudukan di dalam kabinet termasuk yang lain-lain hukuman yang lebih berat harus di praktikkan. Bukankah ianya lebih senang menjaga dengan teliti dan tegas tingkah laku para pemimpin yang merasuah dari menjaga 74,000 orang yang mungkin menerimanya nanti.

2. BUKANKAH KAEDAH INI AKAN MEMIHAK KEPADA PEMIMPIN-PEMIMPIN ATASAN YANG SEDIA ADA YANG SENTIASA DI PAPARAN TELIVISYEN DAN MEDIA CETAK?

Tentu sekali. Jika kita guna kaedah ini, maka ahli-ahli kabinet dan Timbalan-timbalan menteri yang inginkan kedudukan didalam Majlis Tertinggi akan menggunakan peruntukan kementerian mereka untuk menjelajah satu Semenanjung dan Sabah untuk mengadakan program- program dan membuat sidang akhbar supaya muka dan nama mereka sentiasa di lihat dan dibaca akar umbi memudahkan keadaan untuk mereka di calon dan sekali gus diundi manakala ahli2 yang lain yang sudah lama berkhidmat di kawasan masing-masing tanpa publisiti tetapi berpotensi yang ingin berkhidmat di peringkat pusat pula sudah tentu tidak akan berpeluang untuk dipilih walaubagaimana ikhlas pun mereka itu didalam perjuangannya. Dengan ini ahli-ahli MKT yang memegang jawatan di dalam kerajaan akan terus menerajui UMNO samada sehingga mereka meninggal dunia atau di hentikan dari memegang jawatan kerajaan. Jika ini berlaku, maka dimanakah akan terletaknya keinginan kita untuk melihat Parti menguasai Kerajaan?

3. JIKA 74,000 ORANG YANG AKAN MENGUNDI PUCUK PIMPINAN UMNO, ADAKAH KES-KES TERTENTU YANG ISTIMEWA UNTUK MEMBANTU AHLI-AHLI AKAR UMBI YANG LAYAK, AKAN DILAYAN OLEH PEMEGANG JAWATAN YANG INGIN KEKAL SEBAGAI AHLI MAJLIS TERTINGGI NANTI?

Jangan diharap ianya akan berlaku kerana dengan seramai demikian berbanding dengan 2000 perwakilan, mereka tidak perlu melayan permohonan seorang dua dari ahli-ahli akar umbi kerana jika 1000 orang pun yang tidak mengundi mereka, masih ada lagi 73,000 yang mungkin akan mengundi secara buta oleh kerana kedudukan yang mereka pegang itu. Sebaliknya jika system yang sedia ada ini di kekalkan, jika layanan buruk yang diberikan keatas satu-satu kes yang sahih yang memerlukan perhatian penyandang jawatan itu, maka padahnya akan menjadi buruk untuk pemimpin tersebut kerana untuk mempengaruhi 500 atau 1,000 orang teramat senang berbanding dengan 74,000 orang.

Pernah berlaku seorang pemimpin negeri mendapat pencalonan yang kedua tertinggi di kalangan 7 orang yang bertanding jawatan Naib Presiden UMNO. Tetapi oleh kerana beliau tidak berkhidmat dengan sempurna kepada ahli-ahli UMNO dinegerinya sementara ahli-ahli itu mendapat layanan yang cukup mesra oleh pemimpin-pemimpin negeri lain, maka semasa pemilihan tersebut, Hamba Allah yang mendapat pencalonan kedua tertinggi itu telah mendapat tempat yang ke enam.

Sememangnya sedap bunyinya jika didengar oleh ketua-ketua UMNO Cawangan dan para akar umbi apabila dikatakan bahawa mereka akan diberi kuasa untuk mengundi pucuk pimpinan parti, tetapi tanpa di sedari, mereka sendiri akan kehilangan kenikmatannya apabila ada masalah2 persekolahan atau perkerjaan anak-anak mereka yang memerlukan perhatian yang lebih sedikit dari para pemimpin memandangkan mereka tidak akan di layan di pejabat orang-orang yang mereka tolong naikkan didalam politik, kerana mereka adalah hanya SATU sahaja dari 74,000 orang yang mengundi. Jangan terperanjat jika ada nanti yang menjawab dengan sinis, “kalau saya nak tolong 74,000 orang macam awak yang mengundi saya, bila yang saya nak buat kerja saya ini?”

4. APAKAH KOS YANG DIPERLUKAN DIDALAM PEMILIHAN GERGASI SEPERTI INI, YANG MELIBATKAN LOJISTIC DAN HARI PENCALONAN YANG BERASINGAN DARI MESYUARAT CAWANGAN DAN BAHAGIAN?

Kesemuanya ini harus dihalusi dan ditimbang sebaik-baiknya sebelum kita membuat keputusan samada menyokong atau tidak pindaan Perlembagaan yang melibatkan pemilihan secara gergasi ini.

Siapakah yang sebenar-benarnya mendapat faedah dan menafaat dari Pindaan Perlembagaan ini? Tepuk dada tanya selera tetapi apabila keputusan sudah kita buat umpamanya di atas pengaruh beragenda sesuatu pihak, jangan disalahkan sesiapa lagi kerana kita yang harus bertanggungjawab diatas keputusan kita sendiri mengenai Pindaan Perlembagaan ini.

NAJIB IS CUTTING IT A LITTLE TOO THIN

Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak signing the letter of his appointment as the Sixth Prime Minister of Malaysia

Within the first 100 days in office, Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Najib Tun Razak had made many changes mostly relaxing the rigid policy on Bumiputera equity participation in the economy and other concerns perceived to have the same effect.

Let’s recapitulate and see how many announcements he has made regarding the matter.

1. 1 Malaysia.

2. Dissolution of the Ministry of Entrepreneur and Co-operative Development (MECD). This is the agency responsible for coordinating the development of Bumiputera entrepreneurs. The MECD when it was in existence provided training and development programmes to Bumiputera entrepreneurs.

3. Liberalization of 27 services sub-sectors in our economy, whereby the 30% Bumiputera equity is no longer mandatory in this area.

4. Merit-based scholarships and in the same breath hints of doing away with race based quotas by next year.

5. Deregulation of Investment Guidelines http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsindex.php?id=421826 cutting down the percentage of the mandatory Bumiputera equity in Malaysian companies seeking public listing, though 50% of the Public Shareholdings spread must be offered to them.

While I can appreciate that these changes will have positive affects to the Bumiputeras and the Nation as a whole, I fear that not enough information is forthcoming and reaching the Malays in the heartland which could prove to be costly for us if they are left to make their own interpretation to the changes in the government policies.

It seems UMNO Members of Parliament are in full support of the Prime Minister’s new economic policy. Yes well, that’s an understatement because they will always be the first to say they support him, either out of duty or sheer sucking up without comprehending the real situation, even if it is a brilliant idea on the Prime Minister’s part.

Now let us see if these overzealous UMNO MPs will do justice to the good efforts of the Prime Minister by going back to their constituents, particularly the Malays who are not too clear as to the mechanics of these newly introduced measures which DO NOT, contrary to consensus, alter the rights and privileges of the Malay people. Dato’ Sri Najib is putting too much faith in his UMNO soldiers to do the right thing for him. The UMNO Information Chief must crack the whip on these MPs to ensure that the Malays in the kampongs do not lose heart in view of the current standing due to the lack of understanding. In general they are feeling like the good Prime Minister is over-reaching and giving away too much. Trust me on it, I've been on the frontlines and had to face ballistic queries on these issues from branch leaders every weekend of late.

If UMNO fails to inform the heartland of this progressive yet harmless development, then their support for us which we have usually relied upon during general elections will grow thin, while the majority of the Chinese and Indians will remain with the opposition without a doubt in view of the weak and troubled MCA and the lost in trust of the Indian community towards MIC and PPP.

Let NOT Najib’s hands end what his father started.

ALLAH SELAMATKAN SULTAN!

Almutawakkil Alallah Sultan Iskandar Al-Haj Ibni Almarhum Sultan Ismail

Allah Selamatkan Sultan are the last three words from the Johor State Anthem known as the Lagu Bangsa Johor. The loyal Citizens in Johor usually pray for the well-being of H.R.H. the Sultan, the Royal family, government servants, the rakyat and for peace and harmony in the State in one go after Friday prayers every week. UMNO was given birth on the steps of the Johor Palace. As such, the rakyat feels like they have a special relationship and bond with H.R.H. the Sultan.

Yesterday His Highness’ decree delivered by the Tunku Mahkota, Tunku Ibrahim Ismail on his behalf at the opening of the State Assembly, rejected the proposed third bridge linking Johor to Singapore.

In the first place, the topic of the originally proposed Crooked Bridge has been a sore point in the souring relationship between Malaysia and Singapore mainly because of the cancellation of the project by the former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Badawi on the false pretext that the cancellation was in the best interest and wishes of the Johor people. This was an outright lie because the Johor leaders were never consulted nor asked to seek feedback from the people they represented. I specifically remember not long after Dato Sri Najib Razak, the then Deputy Prime Minister, inspected the CIQ, he was asked whether the project was on track in a press conference and his answer was something to the effect that the government was going ahead with it and will not turn back on their decision. A week later, it was reversed and the decision was announced by Abdullah Badawi himself blind-siding Najib entirely, almost turning him into a liar. Naturally, being the Deputy, he had to concur with his Prime Minister.

The people of Johor became weary of Federal decisions made on the State of Johor in their name ever since the infamous “lie” by the former Prime Minister and this was compounded by the decision regarding Johor yet again by the same person, this time on the Joint Committee with the Singapore Government on the Iskandar Region.

We are wondering why the Johor Government, which is supposed to be the Custodian of the State and her people, remained silent when Abdullah lied about Johorians wanting the Crooked Bridge to be cancelled and we still wonder why the Johor Government are mute and is evidently agreeable to the Joint Committee with Singapore on matters regarding our Sovereignty in Iskandar. Do we not have qualified consultants who are equal to the task, perhaps those who’ve developed Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Penang or even Putrajaya that we have to include our “not so friendly neighbour” to participate in this development? If Singapore wanted to develop Sentosa Island or even Jurong which is closer to Johor for instance, would they opt to form a Joint Committee with the Johor State Government? I think not.

I’ll just cut through the chase and say it straight up. We are fed up with our State representatives in the Assembly and the Johor State Government for not speaking their minds until it is too late. The idea of a third bridge linking us with Singapore was a rude shock when we were expecting an announcement of the revival of the Crooked Bridge instead. When I was asked about it once before, I was a little apprehensive about demanding for its revival in view of the economic outlook and wasn't sure whether the Prime Minister had the resources in his hands to afford such an endeavor not to mention the opportunity cost for it's resurrection. However, if we can afford to build a much longer bridge from Pengerang albeit with shared costs with our “nemesis” as announced by the Government, we can damned well afford the shorter bridge over the waters and within the territories of the Pulai UMNO Division as originally planned.

Surely being the head of the State Government, the Menteri Besar would know how the general public feels about it and he should be honest enough to convey the message to the Prime Minister instead of going along and taking for granted the support that we are currently enjoying from the people. Yes, Johor UMNO cured the disease from spreading by pressuring the former Prime Minster out of office. Let’s not have to do it again and save Johor from losing more seats to the opposition because of the lack of preventive measures taken by the Menteri Besar and the BN State Assemblymen who are there to serve the interest of the People, not the leaders in Putrajaya, least of all Singapore.

We, the Barisan Nasional are holding on by a thread in the other States and drowning in the affluent towns and cities in the Peninsula. Are we sure we can afford to gamble with the support from our stronghold in Johor by kowtowing and addressing the needs of our kiasu friends?

ARE YOU REALLY FEELING THE PULSE AND LISTENING TO THE HEARTBEAT OF THE PEOPLE?

Dato’ Sri Najib, the man I have always prayed for to be Prime Minister of Malaysia ever since I was twelve, should take a long hard look at Johor and have a dialogue with local leaders to get honest feedback and in his very own words during one of his rallies, “ feel the pulse and heartbeat of the Rakyat, “ because he sure is not getting those vibes from the State Government and the UMNO division chiefs who try to remain in his good books not knowing that by doing so and not giving him the true picture, they are hurting him and his aspirations to lift the country to greater heights.

The State leaders should be sincere to the Prime Minister by telling him of the real situation on the ground. Granted, perhaps this idea mooted by Dato’ Sri Najib is capital in the macro aspect because it will bring long term benefits to the East Coast not to mention allowing the rich Singaporeans to stretch the legs of their Ferraris and Porsches along the other length of the Peninsula. The Johor leaders should do their job earnestly and save H.R.H. Sultan Iskandar from having to intervene after having felt the heartache of his subjects, most of whom voted for the BN Ruling Government.

During the lapse in judgment of our State leaders in advising the Prime Minister of the weakening pulse and heartbeat of the Rakyat of Johor, we would like to offer our most humble gratitude to His Royal Highness Almutawakil Al-Allah Al-Sultan Iskandar Ibni Almarhum Sultan Ismail Ibrahim for alerting the national leadership of the same and wish His Royal Highness the very best of health under the protection and guidance of Allah The Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

ALLAH SELAMATKAN SULTAN! DAULAT TUANKU!

UMNO VICE PRESIDENTS PAY HOMAGE TO LEE KUAN YEW?

Two of my most admired personalities other than Tun Dr Mahathir; A young Lee Kuan Yew and Abdul Hamid Jumat of Singapore in this 2 June, 1958 file picture.

Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Dato Sri Hishammuddin Hussein, and Datuk Seri Shafie Afdal were reported in the Malaysian Insider to have altogether paid a courtesy call on Singapore’s Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Kuala Lumpur. All three Ministers are Vice Presidents of UMNO.

Granted, the meeting was also with other officials who accompanied LKY on his official visit but why did our Ministers have to go to them at the Mandarin Oriental? Why couldn’t the meeting be at the conference room in the PM’s Department at Putrajaya? If indeed it was just a courtesy call and not an official one, why did it happen to be by three Ministers who are apparently also UMNO Vice Presidents? If Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong were to come, would he be accorded the same courtesy by our UMNO Vice Presidents? Have we officially recognized the position of a Minister Mentor while we don’t have one here?

Have the three UMNO Vice Presidents paid a courtesy call on the Tun at the Perdana Leadership Foundation for “45 minutes of advice and candor” ever since their victory to show their respect for the man who had shaped our Nation into being the fastest developing country in the world besides making UMNO a fully respected political party?

Whose idea was it that all three of them had to meet LKY? What was the reason behind it? Yes you may say that this posting is full of questions but isn’t it too coincidental just to be a matter of fact?

If we are doing it because LKY is a friend of the ruling government, then why, according to the same report in http://m.themalaysianinsider.com/articles.php?id=29162-young-leaders-welcome-lees-visit is he meeting with the opposition as well? When any of our officials go to Singapore, do you think he’d dare pay a courtesy call on the opposition party leader? Would he be accorded the same courtesy we are giving to LKY, i.e. providing police escort complete with sirens to meet with the opposition? We’re being thumbed in the nose and thanking him for it at the same time. This doesn’t send a good signal to the ground.

If anything, I hope at least these three stooges who are humble to the extent of being obedient LKY protégé wannabes, learnt 3 things from the Statesman whom I too admire as a leader in his own City State. They are:

1. How to make the minorities behave themselves, while taking pride and feeling like it’s a privilege in doing so.

2. How to deal with the opposition, i.e. bankrupt their backsides till they are left with only their singlets and shorts having lost their wives and family because of the same, and not being able to drive in posh vehicles to by-election campaigns.

3. How to control the Courts to the extent that it is more painful to go through the judicial process than to be stuffed under the I.S.A. making the latter available but insignificant.

Now if these UMNO Vice Presidents came out of the Mandarin Oriental having learnt all that during their courtesy call with my model politician, LKY, than I’d say it was a very good meeting indeed and hope that Mr Lee Kuan Yew would return to Malaysia on a follow up visit very soon.

WELCOME TO MALAYSIA HARRY!

NAJIB SHUTS THE DOOR ON CHIN PENG AND HIS COMMIE SYMPATHIZERS!

From left to right: Tan Sri Tengku Abdul Hamid Jumat, Mr David Marshall, Tun Sir Tan Cheng Lock, YTM Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Alhaj on the way to the meeting with Chin Peng.

Standing second from left is Tan Sri Syed Jaafar Albar; extreme right is Tan Sri Tengku Abdul Hamid Jumat; seated from left to right are Mr David Marshall, YTM Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Alhaj and Tun Sir Tan Cheng Lock at the Baling Talks.

Note : There is a letter dated 9th November 1957 from the then Prime Minister YTM Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Alhaj to my late father preceeding the events in the two pictures above but I am awaiting clearance from the National Security Division before publishing it as it has the Prime Minister's seal with the words "Top Secret" marked on the top right hand corner of the document pertaining to the Baling Talks with Chin Peng.

Back to the present, Prime Minister Najib Razak took his time but was crisp in his message last week to the communist sympathizers residing in this country. NO ENTRY TO CHIN PENG!! (I won’t use the word homecoming because it is only for those whose home this is. It does not apply to this retired butcher!).

Some of my friends have aired similar sentiments to my earlier one that Chin Peng should be brought home to face charges for War Crimes. Though I agreed with the idea initially, on hindsight, I think it would bring chaos because certain parties will surely politicize the issue and demonstrate and this time, there WILL be blood on the streets. Furthermore, we don’t need his carcass to contaminate our soil!

According to Professor Dato’ Dr Ramlah Adam in the program Isu on TV1 Sunday night, due to certain sensitivities, some of the facts were suppressed since the beginning in fear of raising anger and anxiety among the people but since there have been recent calls for the return of Chin Peng by ignorant parties, what happened during those trying times have to be told, some of which were the tearing of the Quran by them and using pages from the Holy Book to clean their private parts with. This gives credence to the story told by the grandmother of a close friend who is also the mother of a former Minister from Pasir Salak, that the communists came into the kampongs and made speeches ordering the Muslims to perform their Friday prayers on Sundays instead. Naturally many of them never made it out of the kampongs after that and the Muslims who ventured into towns in return were never to be seen again in their kampongs. But we can see what their main agenda was. They wanted the Muslims to eventually give up their faith, abolish the Sultanates and rule by terror. Today, though indirect in the beginning stages, we can see that it is heading towards that, this time with the help of Malay traitors who openly defy the Perak Sultan’s decision in accordance to the Perak Constitution.

Therefore, instead of entertaining and responding to fake democrats who are communists at heart here in Malaysia, the Government would do better by looking up the records to see who were massacred by the communists and left to float in the river, and search for their families to give them some kind of compensation or recognition in the form of funds or pieces of land for their sacrifices in the service of the Nation.

The Commander in Chief, His Majesty the King should present it personally in a ceremony to show the Nation's gratitude, and to send a LOUD signal to the Commie lovers in this country that we give no quarter to their forefathers!

FOREIGN VIS-À-VIS LOCAL DATUKSHIP

The P.M.N. (Panglima Mangku Negara) was bestowed upon my late father by His Majesty the First Yang Di Pertuan Agong which first carried the title " Dato " but was later changed to " Tan Sri " maintaining the old Order or Initials.

I really can’t fathom the front page attention given to foreign Datukships being conferred on social climbers and the sort. I say that I can’t understand what the big fuss is all about because judging by the ridiculous number of people being conferred yearly by Their Royal Highnesses the Sultans and Their Excellencies the Yang Di Pertuas Negeri in Malaysia, the title of Datuk has become less significant and is almost of no value in today’s society.

I mean there have been occasions when one State gave out up to 90 Datukships at one time and in the usual events in other States except for the State of Johor Darul Taqzim, they run up to half a century every time. I have also seen some people of very dubious characters receiving these awards by Sultans, not knowing how to construct even one simple sentence in Bahasa Melayu. We have also read in the past that there were people receiving awards with police records. Again, I am wondering why we are fussing over foreign Datukships.

Once I was at a wedding and there were two speeches made on the evening, one by the bride’s father and the other by the groom’s buddy who was the sponsor for the wedding, a young gentleman who got rich the traditional way, by inheritance. Both speakers were Datuks. The first and elder one was a retired civil servant. I knew this because when the second chap spoke he said it was difficult for him, a corporate Datuk, to have his speech be compared to the more seasoned civil servant Datuk. What does that mean? Did he insinuate that his title was bought?

I also know of one lady who abuses her title to the max, talks down and loudly to people wherever she is regardless of the company she is with, talks with her mouth full and wears clothes like she has no mirror at home. Whenever I see this Dato’, I wonder if the person who recommended her to H.R.H. was mentally stable the day he made his decision. I also wonder if those conferring the awards know and are aware of the characters they pin their State Medals on. This lady Dato’, and I’m sure there are many more Dato's like her out there, reflects badly on the Palace every time she opens her mouth and people have asked me before with their heads shaking, "please tell me which State conferred this title on her?" Of course, without hesitation, I respond swiftly registering to them that Datukship from that particular State is of cheap value, not because it was purchased, but because of the high number it produces and the characters it is decorated on.

About three years ago, on two occasions I flipped through the newspapers and saw a congratulatory message for two gentlemen from the same company being conferred the title Dato’ by one of the Royal Houses in Malaysia. In another event I was introduced at a Country Club to a young Dato’ in his early 20s. I believed his title to be authentic because I was introduced to him by a former Menteri Besar before he retired. I wonder at that age, what could have been his deed to the State in question to deserve such an honour?

My argument here is that we should forget about highlighting the foreign Datukships as these procurers never misrepresented themselves as producing titles from local Palaces. Also those who were “donating” to their funds were well aware that they were conferment from a foreign land. Before we do take them seriously, we should first raise concerns over the almost unlimited number of Datukships given to people who have absolutely nothing to do with the respective States giving them out locally.

Gone are the days when initials followed the surnames like the one I saw in my late father’s call card that had P.M.N. (Panglima Mangku Negara) after his titled name. Perhaps it’s because so many fake Datuks are roaming around not wanting to be checked but feeling absolutely free because they are among tens of thousands with the same title in town. So outrageous are the number of Datuks today, even the car-jockeys at the hotels are calling everyone stepping out of their vehicles “Datuk” because nine times out of ten, he is spot on!

I strongly urge with the utmost respect and loyalty to the Royal Households in this country and the Government of the States with Governors, to restrict the decoration of Datukship to only those deserving and who have served in their respective States, to PRESERVE or rather RESTORE, the prestige and privilege that come with the title.

In this respect, I have the highest regard for the Johor Palace because the H.R.H. only bestows two or three of them every year to deserving civil servants in the State. Politicans and corporate people are the most difficult ones to receive this honour in the State for some reason. The Johor Palace can never be accused or suspected of “selling” the title to anyone.

I read in Fauziah Ismail’s blog Latte @ Chinoz on the Park, http://xmatters.blogspot.com/2008/12/johor-buzz-he-is-datuk-but-its-not-sir.html “ that the only Datukships recognised by England’s Court of St James are those from Johor and Kelantan ”. That explains, through my observation, why ladies and gentlemen who were decorated by these two Malay States carry themselves with utmost respect and honour.

p/s. Rule of thumb: Spelling for State decorations from Royalty is "Dato" while those from the Federal level and States with Yang Di Pertua Negeri is "Datuk".

FIRST UMNO BRANCH IN THE NATION TO PROPOSE THE ONE SCHOOL SYSTEM

Last Sunday I had to officiate the Taman Bukit Kempas UMNO branch meeting in my Division. It was attended by close to one hundred members, quite unusual as they usually come in the figure of 25 or 30 in a small branch although the members in it number up to 200 or more.

Their proposal was very simple but crystal clear. In his speech the gentleman questioned how we will achieve One Malaysia, an idea mooted by our Prime Minister, if we don’t have a One School System where children from all races can mingle and understand better each others’ culture and norm. He continued with a Malay proverb “ Melentur Buluh Biar Dari Rebung “, meaning if we want to shape the future we must start from the young. It makes perfect sense since being separated makes the Malay, Chinese and Indian children feel alien from one another understanding that they are different right from day one instead of feeling comfortable with each other only to ask later in their lives what their differences are making these differences insignificant. The proposal also emphasized on the usage of Bahasa Melayu as the compulsory National language and mode of communication in this country, a decree that has been abused, ignored and neglected in the last decade or so.

The Education Minister earlier rejected any effort by a group of responsible bloggers to promote the One School System and it is shameful that the rejection had to be done so hastily without due consideration. On the contrary, a few days ago, the Minister received a group of Chinese Educationist who sought more help and financial allocations to develop their schools including assistance for an independent Chinese school. I can’t understand how an “ independent ” entity seeks aid and subsidy but at the same time insists that they stay as independents. Again, this must be the sort of merit that they advocate.

I'm taking great pains in understanding how Malay Ministers / leaders can dismiss sensible requests from the Malay grassroots even before the issue gets warm while they allow outrageous demands from non-Malays to fester till it reaches boiling point where we then have to compromise. I’m wondering if we are beginning to sabotage ourselves in respect of the Malay votes in the future general elections. Have we all turned " masochists "?

REVERSE PSYCHOLOGY WITH MALICE

I’ve been reading the Malaysian Insider with much amazement lately. I’m amazed at how they can exponentially spin stories that would sometimes over-kill their sick agenda. Sometimes I read it not for the news but just to see how they’ll spin the damn thing.

A recent attempt is by far the most brilliant, reverse “psychologizing” ( I know it’s not a real word but there’s a perfect ring to it and you know what I mean) the government into perhaps appointing Ong Ka Chuan as the Malaysian Ambassador to China in their article entitled “A Chinese Heads For Beijing In A Gesture Of Trust “.

In the article it said “ In the past, the government has been reluctant to appoint Malaysian Indians or Chinese as the High Commissioner to India or ambassador to China because of worries about their loyalties to the motherland.”

They’re implying and it should rightfully be so based on recent developments, that to an extent the government doesn’t trust the diplomats of these ethnic origins to be commissioned in the country of their ancestors. They are hoping that by pre-empting the announcement, it would pressure the Prime Minister into following through with it in fear of being accused of breaching the “trust” after being commended for it earlier.

I’m sure being an exceptional graduate from the University of Nottingham, the Prime Minister will not be sucked into this mind game and give in to this attempt by malicious people of less intelligence, or will he?

THE MALAYSIAN INSIDER’S FETISH FOR CONTROVERSIAL FIGURES

Of late, this news portal has been giving an ex Mufti from Perlis some raving reviews, mainly I suspect because of his unorthodox stand on Islam. Some Malays from my observation like to take an opposing view inclined to the “ other side “ just to be popular and look like they’re “ intelligent ” when in actual fact they’re just being used as servants by irresponsible and malicious parties in exchange for a few exposures in their media.

The most recent case is the ex Mufti of a State which is probably not bigger than my UMNO division, who is claimed to be an influential scholar with a strong following among the young Muslims in this country. He is said to be in support of the word “Allah” being used by non Muslims and ” against the propensity of religious authorities in conducting raids on Muslim couples engaged in khalwat “. Naturally this will go down well with those inclined towards these activities, making him an” icon for progressive Muslim voices”.

He said that allowing the word Allah to be used by non Muslims would enable the religion to be spread amongst them. On the contrary, being honest, he forgets that Malays who are mainly Muslims are the easiest people to be led astray. This is most true by the existence of Mat Rempits, and the Malays’ fascination for cheap entertainment such as Jom Heboh, Akedemi Fantasia and the like. If for instance they are God fearing and practicing Muslims, would they forego their prayers just to participate and watch these events? The non Muslims however are stronger in their faith and would know how to differentiate the word Allah from their God and they wouldn’t be reading the Malay version of their articles in the first place. Looking at it at face value without taking these sensitivities into consideration, it frames a picture of a scholar who isn’t very bright.

On another article in the same portal the ex Mufti implied that the Sultan’s decision on Perak was being related to Islam by the BN government when in actual fact, it being tantamount to treason is the law of the land and has nothing to do with religion. In wanting us to stop equating Islam with being Malays, he is doing the exact thing by making infidels think that all this while Derhaka is presumed Islamic in nature and should be corrected.

Well, I guess we shouldn’t expect too much from a Muslim scholar who is doing research on Islam in WALES! It’s like a Roman Catholic scholar doing research on Catholicism in the Holy City of Mecca.

This is an example of the shady characters used by the Malaysian Insider to queer things up in the country.

STRIVE TO ACHIEVE ONE BN BEFORE PROMOTING ONE MALAYSIA

The hits just keep on coming from our “ trusted ” and “ loyal ” buddies from the component parties in the Barisan Nasional who are shooting their mouths off in public without consulting the main body behaving, and I say it yet again, like the opposition in residence disrespecting the Prime Minister who is not inclined towards holding snap elections in Perak.

While Prime Minister Najib Razak is busy promoting the One Malaysia concept nationwide and giving face to undeserving parties to save their diminishing influence over the rakyat, the public at large is having a tough time embracing the concept wondering if the Prime Minister is capable of materializing it when he is not even able to control the recalcitrant fellows within the BN

Recently, we have read that the Penang GERAKAN chief and the MCA Deputy President has openly said that we should hold State elections in Perak. While they have every right to their opinions, being members of an organization, they should know that there are proper channels that they should go through without ruffling feathers and showing disunity.

Then there is Kayveas doing a routine in PPP that is apparent in another Indian party in BN, also shooting his mouth off forgetting that the sole representative he is buggering off from PPP was made Deputy Minister without PPP even winning a seat in Parliament.

BN or Prime Minister Najib rather, had rewarded the GERAKAN President with a Cabinet’s post even when GERAKAN didn’t pull their weight in the last general elections, yet without being grateful and following the chain of command and forgetting that they should focus on winning back their lost state in Penang, their lowly state party chief wants to teach the Top Gun on how to deal with Perak which we have taken back. This is an example of the failure trying to teach the successful what to do. I guess again this is the meritocracy that they’ve been barking about. The MCA too, equally recalcitrant in their behavior is reported to be rewarded soon with the important appointment of Ambassador to China. It’s as if we don’t have enough trouble with them here instigating people and questioning the provisions in the Constitution and Government policy which they are a part of, now we have to trust them not to do the same complaining to mother China on “atrocities ” we impose upon them here.

All along I thought they had put a spell on the previous Prime Minister and I wasn’t surprised as he was weak and naturally an easy prey, but it seems this spell has overflowed to the current PM which is of great concern since he is seen all along as a capable and strong leader.

While we are all for One Malaysia which is vigorously being promoted by the good Prime Minister, it is essential that he makes the proper correction in the Barisan Nasional to ensure that everyone toes the line and be united while being seen to be united. If we fail to see the governing party as One Barisan Nasional, then One Malaysia will quickly lose its credence in the eyes of the Rakyat even before it gets off the ground.

PERFECT MAN FOR WASHINGTON

Dr Jamaluddin Jarjis a.k.a. J.J.

Dato’ Sri Dr Jamaluddin Jarjis is reported by a news portal today to be the candidate to head the Malaysian Mission in Washington DC while maintaining the status of a Minister. If this prevails, then this will be the best choice made by the government since Tun Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman was appointed Ambassador to the United Nations in the 50s.

J.J, as he is fondly known is one of the sharpest minds in UMNO today and will be a fitting candidate for Ambassador to Washington because of his impeccable public relations skills and long term fine relationship with parties on Capitol Hill. He will get down to the business of promoting Malaysia – U.S. ties from day one in office as opposed to others who would have to take six months to settle down and get acquainted with the Big Boys on the Hill.

He is also one of the very few dynamics in Malaysian politics who is well received by all “factions” within the UMNO party and is a close associate of Prime Minister Najib Razak having served under him in the Youth Wing and coming from the same division very early in their political lives. His affable character being able to mingle with everyone at all levels with ease and his connection within those in power makes him an easy target for those who would want to bring the Prime Minister down. He was mentioned by the allegedly bankrupt fugitive Raja Petra Kamarudin in Malaysia Today and accused without the slightest evidence of trying to buy his silence over the case of the Mongolian woman who was murdered for alleged extortion. J.J. has dismissed this as “rubbish” and is seeking legal redress which might be futile if the fugitive is indeed a bankrupt. Last night, over a late night “teh tarik”, I was asked by my peers, as men of reasonable intelligence, wouldn’t it be easier for us to believe a man who has served the nation well over a bankrupt who is on the run from the law? I leave this question to your good judgment.

What is sure is that Malaysia’s position will be undoubtedly enhanced on the American front with Dr Jamaluddin Jarjis as our man in Washington. He will take the battle with Anwar to the source of the latter’s strength, and if I know J.J. well enough, I’d bet my last buck that he will deliver.

JACKIE CHAN SAYS IT ALL

"Drunken monkey in the snake's shadow"- My favourite Jackie Chan Movie

JACKIE CHAN SAYS CHINESE PEOPLE NEED TO BE 'CONTROLLED'

“Jackie Chan has triggered controversy by claiming Chinese people are so chaotic they need to be firmly controlled by the government.”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/5182114/Jackie-Chan-says-Chinese-people-need-to-be-controlled.html.

“I'm not sure if it's good to have freedom or not. I'm gradually beginning to feel that we Chinese need to be controlled. If we're not being controlled, we'll just do what we want." He reportedly said this at a business forum in the country’s Hainan Province

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/dailydish/detail?blogid=7&entry_id=38876.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Najib Razak liberalized 27 sub-sectors of the service industry from the 30 % Bumiputera equity participation. Instead of applauding this gesture as a way forward and assisting in seeing its success hand in hand in the spirit of One Malaysia, the MCA through their official loudspeaker/ mouthpiece, it’s Secretary General has pushed the Prime Minister further by asking for all sectors to be opened up without having to gradually progress step by step ensuring that it is fail-proof.

http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2009&dt=0425&pub=utusan_malaysia&sec=Politik&pg=po_12.htm&arc=hive.

Give these people an inch, they’ll ask for the Universe! I wonder if the MCA Secretary General started using chopsticks from the moment he was delivered in the labour room.

Jackie Chan’s evaluation on the bahaviour patterns of his race is very difficult to rebut based on the attitude of the current MCA ingrates. In addition, the way the Singapore Government handles its citizens, further amplifies his views on it and is testiment of the case in question.

SUSPEND THE CHINESE DAILIES!

The Home Minister should suspend the Chinese dailies which constantly misquote Malay Ministers on Chinese matters inciting anger and pitting the two communities against each other like it was the company’s top agenda.

In the most recent case, the deputy prime minister was reportedly using the word “ungrateful” to describe the community in the wake of the ruling party’s defeat in the Bukit Gantang by-election. Though this was not what he said about the Chinese community although it would have been right on target if he had done so, the response by the Chinese leaders who didn’t bother to investigate beforehand were direct and could strain the relationship in the Cabinet.

According to the Home Minister, he himself was misquoted in his winding up speech in the recent UMNO General assembly when he said the party and the Malay Rulers were the only parties who fought for Malaya's independence. If indeed this is so and judging by the frequency of this malicious act by the dailies concerned, then the minister should stop being defensive and start doing his job by taking action on them maintaining national security and social order before it gets out of hand.

His first act as Home Minister was to appoint Datuk Michael Chong, head of the MCA Public Services and Complaints Department as his advisor and special officer. I dread to think how much further he is willing to bend backwards to please the Chinese community who are a little unappreciative, though not entirely "ungrateful” to BN, but I hope at the very least as UMNO Vice President, he would tap on Michael Chong’s experience to create a complaints bureau for UMNO that mirrors the exemplary and exceptional work of its MCA counterpart.

KHAIRY CONTESTED FOR YOUTH CHIEF, NOT MINISTER!

I don’t see what all the fuss is about. Khairy Jamaluddin or KJ as he is fondly known, wasn’t included in Dato Sri Najib Razak’s Cabinet last week. The Youth Chief’s post doesn’t necessarily come with a seat in the Cabinet. If in the recent past it has, we can all consider that a terrible accident as the Youth Wing and its role in the party were totally neglected because of the previous person’s conviction towards his job as a Minister.

Prime Minister Najib’s decision not to appoint Khairy minister is dead on target enabling him to correct the mistakes of his predecessor. Khairy should work the Youth Wing like a four wheel drive vehicle, roll up his sleeves and get his hands dirty going to the ground gaining the confidence of the youths and to an extent even the public at large. A lot can be done if indeed his intention to contest was for the sole purpose of leading the Wing and not to be Minister.

If Khairy is safe from further persecution, he can turn the tables and come out smelling like a French eau de toilette by proving his mettle. Let us see if UMNO does well by recycling him or writing him off like scrap metal.

MIC SHOULD WORK LIKE KHAIRY JAMALUDDIN

In recent days, it has been reported that the MIC might withdraw its representatives from the Cabinet possibly for these reasons; 1) MIC didn’t get enough respect in the latest Cabinet line up. 2) The President wasn’t appointed Senator and Minister like Koh Tsu Koon, the GERAKAN President. 3) MIC will concentrate on strengthening their support base within the community it represents.

If the offer to withdraw from the Cabinet is put forth, Najib should do the country a big favour and accept it. Like Khairy Jamaluddin, MIC should forget about sitting in comfort and enjoying the perks. They should go down and meet the Indians and the Youths who are either on the fence or on the other side to win their confidence in us, preparing for the next general election which is not very far down the road.

Barisan Nasional, namely UMNO has been very generous in that it has gone against its members’ wish for a Malay candidate to stand in a Malay majority constituent out of respect for comradeship, even when it was crystal clear that the particular comrade was undeserving. Now after failing yet again to live up to our expectations, they disappoint us one more time with their ungrateful gesture.

It is time to call a spade a spade. MIC will fair better without its current President. He is beyond recycling and MIC has become a liability to the National Front. The message should be loud and clear to them. They should either SHAPE UP OR SHIP OUT!